Visit Milwaukee Blog

There is just something special about the NCAA Tournament. Whether you're a college basketball fanatic or a casual sports follower, when March Madness hits, it's almost impossible not to get swept up in the excitement of it all. From Selection Sunday through the championship game, one thing is certain - the unpredictable will happen, and everyone will watch.

What's even better than watching the games on TV? Being at the games to experience it all live. And that's exactly what you can do this year, as the NCAA Tournament is coming to Milwaukee!

On Thursday and Saturday, March 20 and 22, the BMO Harris Bradley Center will host a total of six games of the second and third rounds of this year's tournament. While we won't know which teams are coming to town until after the brackets are revealed on Selection Sunday (March 16), you can make sure you're there to witness the action by purchasing tickets right now.

I'll never forget the excitement of watching my UWM Panthers knock off Alabama and Boston College to earn the only Sweet Sixteen appearance in school history in 2005. Or watching George Mason's amazing run to the Final Four in 2006. Or watching TWO 15-seeds win their opening games in 2012. This year, I have the chance to see the next wave of history being made, up close and personal.

Don't wait until it's too late. Get your tickets today. And start doing your homework so you know which "Cinderella" team will be wearing the glass slipper come March.

It’s been a little over a month now since I moved up from Chicago to Milwaukee to join the VISIT Milwaukee crew. My official long title, which I've yet to master saying while being introduced to people around town, is Senior Director of Marketing and Communications. Being 100% new to the city, fresh off the boat (or rather my Honda CR-V), I figured it would be fun in 2014 to share my stories and first time experiences exploring MKE.

It has felt like a bit of a whirlwind since I arrived in Brew City, but one experience I truly cherished was my relocation to Milwaukee. I eventually landed in Walkers Point, but before getting the keys to my new place, I was blessed to stay at a handful of downtown hotels.

Quick recap… The Pfister Hotel was breathtaking in its classic beauty; it felt rich and inviting to stay at this historic hotel. Now that it’s colder, I can't wait to go back to the Pfister and hunker down on a plush sofa next to the huge lobby fireplace.

Staying at the Hilton Milwaukee, I was treated to coming home each evening, greeted with the sounds of a grand piano playing in the lobby, as I waited for the golden elevators to take me up to a room with a bed piled high with bright white, fluffy pillows. #Spoiled.

While at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, the city was celebrating the downtown Holiday Lights Festival Kick-Off Extravaganza. Memories of my own childhood in Indianapolis around Christmas time rushed back to me. I boarded the glass elevators at the Hyatt to find a dad standing with two young girls bundled up, big smiles spread across their faces pressed against the glass. The dad explained, "We’re taking a ride up." Life’s simple pleasures in their truest form.

My room at The Brewhouse Inn and Suites was hip and trendy beyond words, with glass "beer bubbling" doors going into the bedroom. The suite was a full size "apartment" decked out in slick, modern, edgy decor. I promised myself I'd get a salad for dinner at Jackson’s Blue Ribbon Pub (eating out in restaurants my whole relocation was starting to take its toll), but who was I kidding? Burgers, beer, cheese – yes, please!

With the holidays fast approaching, and my place full of mover boxes instead of presents, my December went by quickly and that's an understatement. I did make it out to the MillerCoors Holiday Lite Show and was randomly selected to be the person to "start the lights" for my group. And yes, I did the moonwalk wearing the Elvis glove. And no, I won't post the video to prove it.

I rang in 2014 in a big way taking advantage of the NEWaukee event hosted at the Milwaukee Art Museum. The energy was high amongst the crowded party-goers; the ball dropped, and I raised a glass to all that awaits me in 2014.

Check back for more stories... and see how my first year in MKE unfolds.

VISIT Milwaukee is an award-winning convention & visitors bureau providing information on premier events, hotel accommodations, transportation, restaurants and fun things to do in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! Experience the warm hospitality of Milwaukee's local businesses. We hope to see you soon!